Travel: Vietnam and Cambodia

YYC on 27/12/2019 - 13:44

Hello everyone,

Looking forward to travel this Feb 2020 to Vietnam and Cambodia. I need to get some ideas from anyone who has traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia. Please help and thank you for helping.

  1. I was looking at cudo.com.au/au/offer/12-day-tour-vietnam.

- Can anyone give me a feedback if Cudo is a good website to book tour? or did anyone book anything from Cudo, if so would you like to give me feedback?

  1. can anyone recommend if it is ok to travel without a tour in Vietnam and Cambodia? or is it safe to visit?

Also, If have anything that you can share about traveling to Vietnam and Cambodia please share.

THANK YOU :)

Travel

Comments

  • dasher86 on 27/12/2019 - 14:12
    +1

    Vietnam and Cambodia are easy to travel on your own and is pretty safe.
    My advice is to find out which tour company Cudo are using and read up on the reviews on Tripadvisor.

    • YYC on 27/12/2019 - 22:50

      thank you for your advice.

  • dingdong3000 on 27/12/2019 - 14:27
    +1

    Get some vaccination shots done.

  • wetsandwich on 27/12/2019 - 14:30
    +6

    Don't use any tours that you pay for here. You'll be overpaying by thousands just so an Aussie business can ream profits off you, when they get outsourced to the same local guys earning 50 cents an hour anyway. Rock up, pick one of the 1 million tour companies and see what they're offering. Bigger range of tour options, and you'll be more likely to find one that's not a rip off.

    Yes, the countries are reasonably safe, just don't do anything stupid. The main risk beyond low level scams is that people will take the opportunity to steal your $2000 iphone if you let them, considering they might earn that much money in several months. So if you're sitting outside at a cafe or bar, do not leave your phone on the table, because the moment you turn your back it's gone.

    Also, anyone who approaches you (especially in Vietnam) is not just a curious English-learner even if this is what they claim is their reason for lurking around there. They're playing a long con of one sort or another and will chat you up before attempting to lead you elsewhere, for either mildly sinister (overpriced restaurant scams) or very sinister (gambling dens/extortion) reasons. The one exception is young university students who legitimately want to chat and learn English in public parks - I actually recommend sitting around in the main parks and letting them approach you of an evening.

    Enjoy, although I'd probably recommend Thailand first if you haven't already got your tickets, as it's a little bit more wealthy and less 'intense' on the scamming and hustling side of things.

    • [Deactivated] on 27/12/2019 - 15:21
      +1

      Can confirm the gambling scam, tried on me last year.if they ask where you are from give them a different city, because they will say they know people there and you can just smile. Cost me $15 and my pride so not too bad.

    • YYC on 27/12/2019 - 22:49

      Thank you :)

  • krushr on 27/12/2019 - 14:45
    +1

    Try Klook, used that when I was in Cambodia and provided the same tours my hotel was offering but at a much cheaper rate

    • YYC on 27/12/2019 - 22:48

      Thanks ! will look into klook.

  • Desert Lotus on 27/12/2019 - 18:47
    +1

    Trying some Vietnam travelling website like viet travel. I havent used that, but my friends use them alot, its ways cheaper than you book them in Australia.

    • YYC on 27/12/2019 - 22:47

      Thanks!

  • dizzle on 27/12/2019 - 19:34
    +1

    I've traveled to Vietnam with my elderly mother and Cambodia on my own. Booked it all myself. It's very easy using sites like Trip advisor and expedia. They gave me ideas of what I wanted to do, and apart from flights and hotels, everything was easier to book over there. But then, I enjoy doing things at my own leisure and don't like being on a schedule.

    There are plenty of trip booking places on the street, and most hotels will help you or have their own booking staff. I found the hotels a touch more expensive, but after looking at a couple of the shop front ones, it wasn't worth my time to go around looking for a deal. I'd prefer to spend my time walking the streets and eating food rather than haggling with different vendors for the same thing. The bonus of this is they know what hotel to pick you up from.

    I enjoyed the Halong Bay cruise in the north. If you're booking this, book early in the trip. We were wanting the overnight and booked for our last couple of nights stay, but because of weather were only able to do the day. And because we were leaving, couldn't reschedule.

    In Cambodia, I spent around 5 days in Siem Reip. Rather than booking tours I found a friendly tuktuk driver that would take me where I wanted to go and stay with me for around $15 US a day. He waited outside the hotel in the morning and had a cooler full of iced bottles of water. That way I could pick and choose what I wanted to see and if I got tired (I'm not great in the heat :)) he took me back early and I went for a drink.

    Both countries, I never felt unsafe at all. There are the usual scams you get from many countries (Museum closed, let em take you to a tailor/gem seller), Pickpocket warnings etc. My only warning is if not doing a tour of the temples, the local guides can be very persistent. One followed me for around half an hour with me constantly saying no, I'm fine. He was very friendly, and was offering free information so that I would hire him. In the end he realised he wouldn't get money and just moved back to the entrance.

    • YYC on 27/12/2019 - 22:47

      Thank you, great help.

  • CMH on 27/12/2019 - 21:02
    +1

    I've been to both Vietnam and Cambodia on separate trips.

    Both are VERY easy to organise tours while you're there.

    I have literally done a trip in Vietnam where I check with the hotel lobby and organized the next day's tours the evening before. Everything sorted out by the hotel for a minimal fee. No hassles, pre-paid when you book it (as in that evening before) and if I don't feel like touring the next day, or the weather looks crap you're not stuck with a tour you don't feel like doing.

    In Cambodia (Siem Reap) I did pretty much the same thing, except I had a bit of an idea where I wanted to go. The tuk-tuk drivers are very familiar with all the tourist attractions and a good number speak English (just ask them if they speak English). They'll take you around and at the bigger sites knowlegeable guides are waiting to show you around (for a fee of course!). If you're after the smaller sites you will need to pre-arrange a guide to show you around.

    • YYC on 27/12/2019 - 22:46

      Thank you :)

  • branners on 30/12/2019 - 10:13

    No experience in Cambodia but family members who have been there report no problems.
    I have been to Vietnam many times, and endorse the previous advice. If you are at a reputable hotel they can arrange trips and guides for you, and not rip you off for doing it.
    As a guide, we booked a car and driver through the hotel we stayed at in Hue, 6 hours, many of the highlights, stops, etc, cost $35.
    There will be touts at the airport to try to rip you off with a cab. We usually book one through the tourist info counter there.
    If booking a hotel, ring them direct and ask for their best rate. I have done this and got upgrades, included breakfast, etc.
    Also, if HCMC is your arrival port, change your currency at that airport (the exchange is on the right after you clear immigration). Sounds crazy, particularly since our airports will fleece you whenever they can. Cannot speak for other airports.
    Otherwise the best currency exchange is, believe it or not, at jewelry sellers at the markets, especially at the Ben Tranh Market.
    Great country, have fun!

    • dizzle on 01/01/2020 - 17:00

      Agree about the exchange, I found the airport probably the 2nd best rate around (gold seller next to the market was the best at the time).

      • Ughhh on 01/01/2020 - 18:04

        Do you remember what time the currency exchange store at HCMC Airport closes?
        Thanks

  • Ughhh on 30/12/2019 - 10:57

    Lots of good advice here.

    What's everyone's top 5 must see or do in Vietnam at and around ho chi Minh?

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